Luat breaks title drought with Villar Cup 9-ball championship

MANILA, Philippines – Rodolfo Luat secured the championship of the Bacolod leg of the First Senate President Manny Villar Cup Sunday night, after he defeated Ramil Gallego 13-10.

It was Luat's first championship in more than two years.

On his way to the title, the 50-year-old veteran downed giants Dennis Orcollo and Ronnie Alcano in the first two rounds before he defeated former Villar Cup winner Gandy Valle and the qualifier Michael Feliciano in the last two.

Playing in front of Gallego's hometown, Luat didn't let the hostile crowd affect him as he raced to a 6-0 lead.

Gallego chipped away at the deficit and in the 17th game, made it 9-8. He could have tied the match in the 18th rack, but he missed a shot at the 5-ball to allow Luat back at the table and fall back 10-8.

In the the 23rd rack, Luat took advantage of a Gallego dry break to methodically clean up the table and seal the trophy.

Luat will take home $15,000 (P727,500), while Gallego, who defeated Efren "Bata" Reyes to advance to the finals, earned $5,000 (P242,500). - GMANews.TV